Concern for partner led to offence at poker gathering

Oliver Henderson was worried when his partner didn't phone to tell him she wanted collected from a poker party and decided to find out why.

But he got a shock when he arrived at the rural cottage where the game was held to find she was seeing someone else and their relationship was over, Wick Sheriff Court was told on Monday.

Henderson (31) began to shout and swear at the male poker players and it led to him being charged with threatening or abusive behaviour. He pleaded guilty.

The court heard that the accused's partner – who was not named – attended the poker party at Shepherds' Cottage, Shebster, along with four of her male work colleagues. The game finished about 3am the following day, December 6, last year and some of the players were said to be staying over.

Fiscal David Barclay said that around 6am, their attention was drawn to someone outside the cottage who turned out to be Henderson.

The accused demanded to be admitted, although the occupants were not sure why he was there.

Mr Barclay said that Henderson's ire was directed at the four males and he shouted and swore at them and went on: "The accused's partner was able to calm him down and told him to go home and he left of his own accord. The matter was reported to the police."

George Mathers said that Henderson, of Ormlie Hill, Thurso, became concerned when he didn't hear from his partner who, it was said, couldn't get a signal on her mobile phone.

The solicitor described Henderson's concern when he didn't hear from his partner.

"The accused didn't know what was happening. He knew there were four males at the poker game and he had a genuine fear for his partner's safety. He was beside himself with worry. He drove to Shepherds' Cottage but got no answer initially. He waited for 20 minutes and became frustrated. He began to fear she might have been abducted or that something dreadful had happened to her."

Mr Mathers said that when Henderson did manage to get into the cottage he discovered that his partner had begun a relationship with someone else and that her relationship with the accused was over.

Mr Mathers added: "Henderson was heartbroken and left. He was deeply in love with her and regarded her as his partner for life. That is the sorry background to this offence."

Sheriff Joseph Platt – who described the situation as "slightly unusual" – continued the case for three months to allow Henderson to demonstrate he can behave and to give the accused and his former partner time to conclude any matters arising from the termination of their relationship.

The sheriff indicated he would take a lenient view if Henderson stayed out of trouble.